MJ
Kinman

Quilting Classes & Events

Schedule of Upcoming Classes & Events

I’m thrilled to be back out on the road teaching IN-PERSON classes! I’m now booking classes and trunk shows through 2026.
To check if I’ll be at a guild or show near you, CLICK HERE for a listing of scheduled classes.

To learn more about the classes I’m currently teaching and the new classes planned for 2023 and beyond, keep reading!

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In class picture

Trunk Shows/Lectures

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Gems & Joy Trunk Show

In-person & Zoom presentations available for guilds and other organizations.

My “Gems & Joy” slide lecture and trunk show chronicle my 25-year adventure in learning how to create the biggest diamonds in the world using fabric.

During my presentation, I’ll talk about the techniques to create and assemble the hundreds of pieces in each diamond, materials I use to create the wash of color and light across a gem’s surface, and the quilting techniques that enhance a gem’s facets. And, as so often happens with any artist’s decades-long journey, I’ll share what I’ve learned about the importance of choosing joy and saying “no” to fear as I made the leap from the Corporate Life to the Creative Life.

Download the overview below.

Length of Presentation: 60 minutes

Skill Level: All

Lecture Fee: $450 ($400 when a class is also scheduled)



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National Treasures Trunk Show

In-person & Zoom presentations available for guilds and other organizations.

My “Smithsonian Series” slide lecture and trunk show introduce you to the artwork inspired by the most beautiful gems in the world. Learn about the gems and their amazing stories, including the amazing people who were caught up in their orbits.

Download the overview below.

Length of Presentation: 60 minutes

Skill Level: All

Lecture Fee: $450 ($400 when a class is also scheduled)


Playing With Pixels

Playing With Pixels (Lecture)

In-person & Zoom presentations available for guilds and other organizations.

When I’m searching for inspiration for a new piece or perhaps the seed of a new series, I love to play with images of gemstones in photo-editing apps like Photoscape.

These apps allow you to manipulate images in a myriad of ways, transforming them into intriguing sources of inspiration for new work.

Download the overview below.

Length of Presentation: 50 – 60 minutes

Skill Level: All

Lecture Fee: $250 ($200 when a class is also scheduled)


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Color Play: Beyond Color Theory (Lecture)

In-person & Zoom presentations available for guilds and other organizations.

Color plays a pivotal role in my gem quilts. Over the past 25+ years, I’ve learned ways to approach color with confidence and I’m delighted to share these method and ideas with you. My Color Play lecture is targeted to helping you gain confidence when working with color choices.

We start with basic color theory, discussing how our brains crave harmony and why certain color combinations satisfy that craving. Then I move beyond basic color theory to explore how a color can “change” simply by being placed next to other colors.

I’ll demonstrate how to make your quilts sparkle and glow by selecting fabrics of different values and saturation levels, how to create effective transparencies, and how to change the appearance of a color in a variety of ways just by placing it next to another color.

Why are these concepts important? I want to help demystify the use of color, help you gain confidence in your color selection, and create beautiful quilts regardless of your inspiration!

Download the overview below.

Length of Presentation: 50 – 60 minutes

Skill Level: All

Lecture Fee: $250

Classes (Half-day & Full-day)

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Color Play: Beyond Color Theory (3-hours)

Due to the hands-on experimentation, this class is best taught in person.

Over the course of the last 25 years, I’ve learned a few things about how to make quilts sparkle and glow. Join me and learn how to use value and saturation contrast bring sparkle and drama to your work, regardless of your inspiration.

This is a class filled with time to experiment and build on lessons learned. There is no sewing required in the 3-hour workshop.

Download the supply list below.

If guilds would prefer this to be a 6-hour/full-day workshop, I can accommodate that. We may also want to build in time to sew toward the end of the day. The full-day version is priced at $750.

Length of Workshop: 3 hours (can be expanded to 6 hours)

Skill Level: All

Workshop Fee: $450 (6-hour version is $750)

Maximum Students: 24

Logo for Improv Gems Class 2
Logo for Improv Gems Class 2

Improv Gems (3-hours)

In-person & Zoom presentations available for guilds and other organizations.

In this class, I’ll show you how to create sparkling gem blocks in a whole new way using the power of improvisational piecing.

Learn how to use improvisational strip-piecing techniques to create emerald-cut, baguette-cut, and Asscher-cut diamonds. These are diamond styles that feature long, lovely facets — the “hall of mirrors” that highlight the interior clarity of a gem.

I’ll demonstrate different styles of piecing, as well as discuss how to make your quilts sparkle and glow by selecting fabric of different values and saturation levels.

Download the supply list below.

Length of Presentation: 3 -Hours

Skill Level: All

Lecture Fee: $450


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Bite-Size Gems (Full-Day)

In-person & Zoom presentations available for guilds and other organizations.

In this fast-paced workshop, participants will create their own singularly beautiful work of faceted light using the same single-foundation piecing techniques I use to create my own “diamond quilts”.  

Participants will choose from one of several pre-selected abstract gem designs based on their skill level. They will then learn how to chart the design onto freezer paper; code each piece for color, location, and adjacency; position template pieces onto fabric to achieve the desired light effects; and ultimately create their own unique study in faceted color. Participants will leave the class with a block that can later be hand- or machine-quilted at home.

Download the supply list below.

Length of Workshop: 5-6 hours

Skill Level: Confident Beginner

Workshop Fee: $750

Maximum Students: 24


Logo Dames and Diamonds

Dames & Diamonds (Full-Day)

In-person & Zoom presentations available for guilds and other organizations.

I’m delighted to introduce students to the technique I use to create all my gem patterns: traditional piecing using freezer paper as a template. I’ve designed three patterns inspired by some of the world’s most beautiful gems, all of which are made available to class participants. Patterns are available as PDF downloads.

Participants will choose one of the fully-charted gem patterns to make during class. During class, we’ll not only create a quilt block of the patterns, but I’ll share all kinds of gossip about the gems and their outrageous, eccentric, and intriguing owners.  

Download the supply list below.

Length of Workshop: 5-6 hours

Skill Level: Confident Beginner

Workshop Fee: $750

Maximum Students: 24


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Schedule of Classes & Events

Find downloadable PDF of descriptions and supply list for each class above.


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Bite Size Gems Logo Jun 2021 resized 250

March 12 & 13, 2024

Folsom Quilt & Fiber Guild (Folsom, California)

IN-PERSON

Gems & Joy Trunk Show — March 12, 7 PM Pacific

Bite-Size Gems Class — March 13, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Pacific

Contact: Laura Werner; [email protected]


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Gems Joy Logo Revised Jun 2021
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March 21 – 23, 2024

Arizona Quilters Guild Annual Conference (Phoenix, Arizona)

IN-PERSON

Bite-Size Gems Class — March 21

Gems & Joy Trunk Show — March 22

Color Play: Beyond Color Theory (Lecture) — March 23

More info to come soon!


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March 24, 2024

16th Biennial Art Quilt Elements
OPENING RECEPTION
(Wayne Art Center; Wayne, Pennsylvania)

IN-PERSON

“Torch Song” has been accepted into the 16th Biennial Art Quilt Elements exhibit! The show runs from March 24 through April 27. Join me at the Opening Reception on Sunday, March 24th, and enjoy the show!

For more information, visit the Wayne Art Center’s website.


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Treasure Hunting Class Logo 5 day

In class picture

April 14 – 19, 2024

Empty Spools Seminars — Treasure Hunting: A 5-Day Adventure in Design with MJ Kinman (Asilomar Conference Center; Monterey, California)

IN-PERSON

I’m delighted to announce that I’ve been invited to return to Asilomar Conference Center to teach a week-long class for Empty Spools Seminars. This immersive class is for anyone who has an idea of a quilt in mind in which every piece is a different shape, size, or color. Piecing with freezer paper is a powerful technique that quiltmakers of all skill levels can master. While my inspiration is gemstones, yours might be landscapes, florals, even abstracts. No matter the subject matter, I’ll help you bring your design to life.

Along the way, we’ll talk extensively about how to make your designs sparkle and glow, as well as how to add translucency to your quilt, all through the specific use of value contrast and saturation contrast. We’ll also talk about how fabric selection impacts the “clarity” of your design. And finally, I’ll introduce you to some of the most beautiful and well-known gems in the world and the outrageous, eccentric people who crossed paths with them.

Join me for a marvelous week of joyful creativity at the beach!

Click here for more information and to register!


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April 24, 2024 (6 – 8 PM)

Bourbon Tasting hosted by Cherrywood Hand-Dyed Fabrics (Paducah, Kentucky)

IN-PERSON

Join me in Paducah during Quilt Week for an introduction to Kentucky bourbon! Following a yummy meal of heavy hors d’oeuvres, I’ll share my adventure making quilts inspired by Kentucky’s most popular export. We’ll sample three bourbons — Maker’s Mark, Buffalo Trace, and Angel’s Envy. As a certified Kentucky Bourbon Steward, I can’t wait to share Kentucky’s Bourbon Story with you.

Seating is limited, so register today!

Visit Cherrywood Fabrics website to register now.


New England Quilt Seminars
New England Quilt Seminars
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April 27 – May 3, 2024

New England Quilt Seminars (Hosted by David Taylor)

IN-PERSON

Join me next Spring in the gorgeous White Mountains of New Hampshire! Award-winning quiltmaker David Taylor founded these retreats to create a one-of-kind experience for students. Classes are small so we’ll really get to know one another and have a good time during the week we’re together.

You can work on “Annie” — my newest Diamond Diva pattern — or any project you wish to bring along. “Annie” will be available in 4 colorways: Aquamarine, Peridot, Rubellite, and the Purple Heart colorway.

The design was inspired by US Army Lt. Annie G. Fox who received the Purple Heart medal for her bravery during the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Along the way, we’ll talk extensively about how to make your designs sparkle and glow, as well as how to add translucency to your quilt, all through the specific use of value contrast and saturation contrast. We’ll also talk about how fabric selection impacts the “clarity” of your design. And finally, I’ll introduce you to some of the most beautiful and well-known gems in the world and the outrageous, eccentric people who crossed paths with them.

Click here for more information and to register!

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Caribbean Holiday Twin Size
Caribbean Roses Twin Size

June 21 – 29, 2024

Quilting Cruise with MJ Kinman (Adventures by Michelle)

IN-PERSON

Join me on my very first QUILTING CRUISE! We’ll spend this 8-night/9-day Royal Caribbean cruise line adventure visiting beautiful spots in the Caribbean like St. Croix, St. Thomas, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Coco Cay. While at sea, I’ll show you how to make 1 of 2 special quilts I designed just for this trip: “Caribbean Holiday” and “Caribbean Roses”. Both projects are twin-size quilts featuring large and small gemstone blocks.

The full kit is included in the fee, and I’ll bring a variety of backgrounds and embellishments for you to choose from to customize your quilt. Plus you’ll have lots of downtime for free sewing to your hearts content!

Michelle and I sat down to chat about our destinations, the projects, and more. Click the image below to listen in.

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Itinerary:

  • 21 June 2024:     Depart Port Canaveral, Florida at 4pm – Make & Take Sponsored by our Janome Provider
  • 22 June 2024:     Quilting and Cruising Day at Sea – Welcome Aboard Party – Evening Open Sewing
  • 23 June 2024:     Quilting and Cruising Day at Sea – Evening Open Sewing
  • 24 June 2024:     Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas from 8am to 6pm – Evening Open Sewing
  • 25 June 2024:     St Croix, USVI from 8am to 8pm – Evening Open Sewing
  • 26 June 2024:     San Juan, Puerto Rico from 7am to 4pm – Evening Open Sewing
  • 27 June 2024:     Quilting and Cruising Day at Sea – Evening Open Sewing
  • 28 June 2024:     Morning Open Sewing – Coco Cay from 9am to 5pm – Farewell Party
  • 29 June 2024:     Arrive Port Canaveral, Florida at 7am

Registration is now open! Click below to download the flyer with more information or CLICK HERE to visit the Adventures by Michelle website.